Summer Tomato Battles to Hit Cities Across the U.S.

From July to September, massive Tomato Battles will arrive in a handful of cities—Chicago, Denver, New York City, Northern California (Pleasanton), Seattle, and Southern California (Silverado)—across the United States.

The event “marries the traditions of Spain’s La Tomatina tomato-throwing festival and Germany’s Oktoberfest” and “unifies as many as 5,000 fruit-chucking fanatics for an afternoon of dancing to music, sipping libations, and flinging 300,000 pounds of roma tomatoes at one another.” Battle-goers are encouraged to prepare for a messy afternoon, and to wear goggles, bathing suits, and treaded shoes.

The Tomato Battle’s organizers assure attendees that the tomatoes used are overripe, and therefore not a waste of food: “They will be thrown away as it is, instead of thrown (that’s a waste).”

There will be live performances at each Tomato Battle, but the names of the performers have not yet been released.

Tickets, $50, are available for each city’s event on the Tomato Battle website.